Princess Elizabeth of Clarence (Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide; 10 December 1820 – 4 March 1821) was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of George III. At the time of her birth she was third in line of the order of succession to the British throne behind her uncle The Duke of York and her father The Duke of Clarence, and it was generally assumed at the time that Elizabeth would one day succeed to the throne, but she died unexpectedly as an infant.

[edit] Early life

Princess Elizabeth was born on 10 December 1820 at St. James's Palace, London. Her father was The Prince William, Duke of Clarence, the third eldest son of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her mother was The Duchess of Clarence (née Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen), the daughter of George I, the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. The young princess was christened on the day of her birth (or possibly the day after), by The Bishop of London, William Howley.^[1] As a granddaughter of a British monarch in the male line, she was styled Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of Clarence from birth.

British Royalty
House of Hanover
William IV
Princess Charlotte of Clarence
Princess Elizabeth of Clarence

[edit] Heiress

The birth of Princess Elizabeth was a significant event in 19th century Britain. Her father, the Duke of Clarence, was the second in line to the throne following the death of Elizabeth's cousin, Princess Charlotte of Wales in 1817, and their grandfather George III in 1820. Since the Duke's two elder brothers, George IV and The Duke of York were both without legitimate children, and the King and the Duke of York were both estranged from their wives, it seemed likely that Princess Elizabeth would succeed as Queen in years to come. Her mother, the Duchess of Clarence, had several difficult pregnancies, and Elizabeth's elder sister, Princess Charlotte of Clarence, had died the same day that she was born, making it unlikely that the Duke and Duchess would produce a son who would displace her.^[2]

[edit] Death

Although she was born before term, Elizabeth enjoyed good health at first, however she died in infancy, succumbing to convulsions and dying of intertwining of the bowels on 4 March 1821.^[3] She was buried in the Royal Vault at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Elizabeth's father succeeded to the throne as William IV in 1830. Her cousin, Princess Victoria of Kent, whose place she had taken in the line of succession on her birth, succeeded him and became Queen in 1837. Queen Victoria kept a bust of Princess Elizabeth in her private apartments in Kensington Palace.^[4][5]

[edit] Titles, styles, honours and arms

[edit] Titles and styles

• 10 December 1820 – 4 March 1821: Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of Clarence

As a granddaughter of George III, Princess Elizabeth would normally have been styled Royal Highness. However, the London Gazette of the 6 March 1821 which announced her death gave her style as Her Highness, noting her as "Niece to the King and granddaughter to the late king George the III."^[6]

[edit] Ancestors

[edit] See also

• British princess

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[edit] References